ASEAN Summit: Security ramps up as Peter Dutton opens meeting

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has officially opened a meeting of southeast Asian leaders in Sydney today, which will take place over the weekend.

In his opening address at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which will host talks on trade, regional security, human rights and counter-terrorism, Mr Dutton described the continuing need for counter-terrorism measures.

“Protecting our nations from the scourge of terrorism is an ever-increasing challenge,” he said.

Sydney residents have been urged to prepare for major disruptions around Darling Harbour and across the CBD this weekend, as security is tightened for the arrival of leaders from 10 southeast Asian countries.

NSW Police have been given enhanced powers to close roads and remove vehicles within a certain perimeter in the CBD and officers will be able to conduct random searches.

Sydney residents will face CBD disruptions this weekend due to the ASEAN Summit, with police given enhanced powers. Picture: AAP. (AAP)A perimeter has been set up for the Sydney CBD during the ASEAN Summit in which police can close streets, remove vehicles and conduct random searches. Picture: NSW Police. (Supplied)

Protest groups also mobilised throughout the city ahead of the summit, with Amnesty International demonstrating on a boat near Barangaroo yesterday to draw attention to the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

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Mr Dutton’s opening address comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull kicked off formalities yesterday at a business forum attended by the leaders of the 10 member countries.

As part of the summit, Mr Tunbull will launch an ambitious bid to help Southeast Asian countries fix some of their urban planning nightmares, slums and traffic-gridlocked roads.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to announce a $30 million investment in "smart cities" in southeast Asia today at the ASEAN Summit in Sydney. Picture: AAP. (AAP)

He is expected to announce a $30 million investment to support "smart cities" today, which will set up a knowledge bank of sustainable urban planning ideas to be shared between ASEAN countries and Australia.

Over the weekend, Mr Turnbull will be involved with talks including Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as well as leaders from Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei.